Lava continues to erupt from multiple vents at Kilauea, sulfur dioxide emissions increase, Hawaii

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Lava continues to erupt from multiple vents along the floor and western wall of Kilauea's Halemaʻumaʻu crater since September 29, 2021. As of October 3, 2021, all lava activity is confined within Halemaʻumaʻu in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Seismicity and volcanic gas emission rates remain elevated.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates remain high and were approximately 14 750 tonnes per day on October 2, 2021, which is higher than the previous day. Seismicity is elevated but stable while summit tiltmeters continue to record deflationary tilt, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) noted in the latest update for the volcano.1

In 24 hours to 19:59 UTC on October 3, the lava lake level has risen over 1 m (3.3 feet). In total, the lava lake surface has risen approximately 27 m (89 feet) since the eruption started.

Image credit: USGS/HVO, L. DeSmither

Image credit: USGS/HVO, L. DeSmither

The west vent continues to be the most vigorous source, with sustained lava fountain heights of 10 – 15 m (33 – 49 feet). The lava lake has risen to the base of the west vent, around which a cone is being built.

Other vents including a 35 m (115 feet) long fissure continue to be active in the central and southern parts of the lake, with sustained lava fountain heights of 5 – 10 m (16 – 33 feet).

Occasional fountain height bursts have also been observed over the past 24 hours.

Due to the location of vents, the lava lake is not level across its surface.

As of October 3, the west end of the lake is 1 – 2 m (3.3 – 6.6 feet) higher than the east end, and the south end is approximately 1 meter (3.3 feet) higher than the north end. Localized and discontinuous crustal foundering continues (a process by which cool lava crust on the surface of the lava lake is overridden by less-dense liquid from below causing the crust to sink into the underlying lake lava).

No unusual activity has been noted in the Kīlauea East Rift Zone. SO2 and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions from Puʻuʻōʻō were below instrumental detection levels when last measured on January 7, 2021.

Hazard analysis

This new eruption at Kīlauea’s summit is occurring within a closed area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Therefore, high levels of volcanic gas are the primary hazard of concern, as this hazard can have far-reaching effects downwind.

Large amounts of volcanic gas – primarily water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) – are continuously released during the eruptions of Kīlauea Volcano.

As SO2 is released from the summit, it reacts in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog) that has been observed downwind of Kīlauea. Vog creates the potential for airborne health hazards to residents and visitors, damages agricultural crops and other plants, and affects livestock.

Additional hazards include Pele's hair and other lightweight volcanic glass fragments from the lava fountains that will fall downwind of the fissure vents and dust the ground within a few hundred meters of the vent (s). Strong winds may waft lighter particles to greater distances. Residents should minimize exposure to these volcanic particles, which can cause skin and eye irritation. 

Other significant hazards also remain around Kīlauea caldera from Halemaʻumaʻu crater wall instability, ground cracking, and rockfalls that can be enhanced by earthquakes within the area closed to the public.

This underscores the extremely hazardous nature of Kīlauea caldera rim surrounding Halemaʻumaʻu crater, an area that has been closed to the public since late 2007.

The Volcano Alert Level remains at Warning and the Aviation Color Code at Red.

References:

1 HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY DAILY UPDATE U.S. Geological Survey Sunday, October 3, 2021, 9:59 AM HST (Sunday, October 3, 2021, 19:59 UTC)

Featured image credit: USGS/HVO

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